7 Tips To Attract Social Work Recruiters to Your LinkedIn Profile
by Harleny Vasquez, LMSW, SIFI
It’s the power of Linkedin! You have probably heard that statement a million times as a new social work graduate, listening to other professionals inform you that you need to get on LinkedIn to secure your next opportunity.
But let me guess. You probably already tried navigating this platform and got completely overwhelmed. It led you to going back to submitting multiple job applications on Indeed with no callbacks.
The known truth is that LinkedIn is a platform that can lead you toward landing multiple job opportunities if you are on the platform with a specific strategy in place. Using LinkedIn as a job seeker is more than just creating a profile and searching for jobs. It’s a platform where you can build key relationships and have real conversations with real people that can lead you toward certain opportunities before they are even created. Here’s the secret: when you are direct and intentional on this platform, you will be able to see the success you desire. It can give you the opportunity to find the “right” job in your area of focus.
Here are some key steps to help you become direct and intentional on the LinkedIn platform. The first step is to identify your “Why” and your reasons for becoming a social worker. It’s important to always remember your why when navigating the job market. The second step is to visualize what you would like your ideal role to look like (age, population, setting, duties). There is so much power in being able to first identify your dream job before you allow the market to identify it for you. If you create your own job description, you will be able to be direct when navigating the LinkedIn platform. The same goes for when you are building your profile and establishing your own personal brand. The third step is optimizing your LinkedIn profile to become a lead magnet for recruiters. Linkedin is a sales page for your career.
7 Tips To Increase Your Visibility Using the LinkedIn Platform
1. Optimize your headline and bring it meaning.
Don’t just list, “I am a student at this university or currently employed at the following agency.” Think of the following concept: who you are, what you have to offer/scope of practice, and what is your overall goal.
Example: Social work graduate with a focus on empowering individuals with chronic medical diagnosis through psychoeducation, individual counseling, support groups, and case management services to enhance their quality of life.
2. Make sure your headline photo is the BOMB.com.
No need to hire a photographer—you can simply take out your personal phone and have a clear solid background. Don’t be afraid to add a little spark and bring out your personality. This is how you develop your personal brand. If your favorite color is red, then wear a red blazer/earring. The photo should be 400x400 pixels.
Example: You can view my own headshot that I took with my own iPhone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harlenyvasquez/
3. Make sure to optimize your LinkedIn URL.
When you first create a profile, it is done automatically with many letters and numbers. LinkedIn is a search engine, so the more you optimize and identify your name, the easier it is for others to find you.
Example: You can find my own URL if you search my name, Harleny Vasquez.
4. Network!
They say your network is your net worth, and this is true to the very core. You must realize that people globally use this platform, and somebody knows somebody. You can go back to the job description you created for yourself and start narrowing down people in your network who can help connect you to people in their network who can bring you closer to identifying a target company.
Other suggestions: Tap into your alma mater, as well.
5. Obtain LinkedIn recommendations.
It is a way for recruiters to see listed references before they speak with you.
Suggestions: You can ask previous professors, colleagues, employers for a recommendation.
6. Get endorsements and list skills.
As I mentioned before, LinkedIn is a search engine. The more keywords you have listed on your profile regarding your dream role, the more your profile will appear in searches. Keywords=skills. If you endorse other people’s skills, they will return the favor. If you have multiple skills endorsed, your profile will appear in more searches.
Keyword/skill examples: Case Management, Biopsychosocial Assessments, Motivational Interviewing, Mental Health (All skills should be related to the role you are trying to seek—check out job posting for the skills the employer wants.)
7. Make your About Me section stand out.
Tell your personal story on your LinkedIn summary. This is your chance to reflect on who you are and your why.
The goal is to get recruiters and hiring managers to reach out to you, to start key conversations that can lead to interviews. Below is the format:
Paragraph 1: Introduce yourself and start off with stating your reasons for becoming a social worker. Explain what drives you about this field and your area of focus. What is your overall goal?
Paragraph 2: Explain more in depth your overall experience in social work. Mention some of your accomplishments in this field—volunteer work, internship placements, awards received.
The next section is an extension of Paragraph 2, where you want to list professional accomplishments within this field. Do you know how to facilitate workshops, run groups, conduct biopsychosocial assessments, or budget plan? You would list all of these accomplishments in these sections—at least 3-5 of them—and remember, it must be relatable back to the role you are trying to seek next.
The next section would be an expertise section, where you list keywords related to the role you are seeking. Examples include Foster Care, Trauma-Informed Care, and Mental Health.
The last section is a call to action. You need to list your goal and how people can contact you.
Example: I am seeking a role to support youth with their life transitions to enhance their overall mental health and well-being. To learn more, I can be reached at (include your email address).
If you don’t want your employer to know you are job seeking, you can simply state: Let’s connect. I can be reached at (include your email address).
It all works. Optimize and start landing your next role!
Harleny Vasquez, LMSW, SIFI, is a Latinx social worker with more than eight years of experience working in the field of social services, primarily with children dealing with complex trauma and trauma-informed organizations. She is a social work career coach, speaker, and the founder of her business yourEVOLVEDmind, as a social work career coach helping social workers in all stages secure their next opportunity. She is an active board member on the Latino Social Work Coalition and Scholarship Fund and co-chair for NASW-NYC Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification.